Large old sash windows - refurb, secondary glazing or double? WWYD?

[Goodwordguide]

Need to do something for warmth & insulation (rather than noise). Refurb with draught-proofingis cheapest option (and my fave as it's the least intrusive) but DH reckons it won't be warm enough.

Double glazing would require whole new windows and is £££ plus not really in keepng with the house (though we are not listed).

Secondary glazing is ugly I think but is DH's preference.

House is late Georgian, windows are in mixed condition, very large and potentially very cold. Help us decide!

[beaglesaresweet]

I've done hte refurb, and it hasn't made a radical difference as the windows are huge and it feels like hte wind blowing through glass panels. It helps to reduce drafts, but it's NOT anywhere double-glazing for actually maling a house warmer (or stop it losing the heat). I do have shutters which help - but obviously not an option in the day, not that it matters in autumn yet. In winter it's really cold still on weekend at home. I'd go for secondary, OP, even if in some of the rooms! refurb is stilll not cheap so not a great value unless you have small rooms and small windows.

[beaglesaresweet]

anywhere near

[SabrinaMulFUCKERJjones]

We have ancient old sashes - we refurbed first and then got secondary glazing. the refurb makes them look nice, but the secondary glazing makes a incredible difference to noise and warmth retention. Security as well.

Old windows are a thing of beauty and should be preserved. The guy who refurbed ours says he regularly picks out antique glass from skips - just chucked out by new window fitters - and re-uses it.

[KissesBreakingWave]

Check whether you're in a conservation area. And then hope the local government officer responsible for yours is one of the good ones. The good ones come up with interesting and helpful ways to get your property up to snuff without spoiling the look of the area.

[BackforGood]

We had ancient old sashes but the wind just whistled through them. I got a quote for replacing them with new, wooden, double glazed, 'same style' ones, which I thought was incredibly expensive when I thought the amount he said was for the lot, but it was just for 1 window .
We decided to get UPVC ones made in the style of the old ones - including the stained glass.
It has made SUCH a difference to the bedrooms they were in, it was definitely the right decision for us.

[YesterdayI]

I would go with WonkyLegs method. It's really expensive but maybe you could budget very long term and do a couple of windows at a time.
Refurb doesn't do that much and you can't keep curtains closed all day.

Windows can really make or break a house.

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

Can you have the single glazing replaced with micro thin double glazing when you have the windows re vamped ?!

[wonkylegs]

It depends on the size of the window as to whether or not the thin double glazing can be added when refurbishing.
The problem is the weight of the window and getting the lead weights to work.
Doubling the amount of glass may need heavier weights than the space in the boxing allows (this was a problem with ours)

[JoannaAC]

Goodwordguide, I imagine you are well sorted by now - hope so. But noticed your comment about secondary glazing being ugly - wondered if you had seen this? clearviewsg.wordpress.com/2014/02/21/secondary-glazing-is-ugly/

[TinyTear]

i did double glazing on my wooden sash windows. some companies can do it

[TunipTheUnconquerable]

Secondary glazing did used to be ugly but it has improved a lot in the last few years.